The medicine cabinet fills up.
On Thursday, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) approved two new effective treatments for Covid-19.
“This brings the number of medicines authorized under the EU's therapeutic strategy to five,” said European Commissioner Stella Kyriakides.
Some are authorized in France, and others could come.
Treatments authorized in France
Evusheld
Evusheld is a synthetic antibody treatment designed by the AstraZeneca laboratory.
It is given in two successive injections.
Unlike most anti-Covid antibody treatments, which are intended for patients already hospitalized to prevent them from a very serious form, Evusheld aims to act before the onset of the disease, on the same principle as a vaccine.
The High Authority for Health (HAS) gave the green light for the preventive use of Evusheld on December 11.
It is intended for adults who are not eligible for vaccination for medical reasons, in particular because they risk serious allergic reactions.
Among these people, only those who are at high risk of a severe form of Covid-19 will be able to benefit from the treatment, according to the HAS.
Ronapreve
Developed by the Swiss laboratory Roche, Ronapreve is already known in France.
Since the beginning of August, immunocompromised people can benefit from an "early access authorization" to this serum.
It is authorized in adults and adolescents (from 12 years old and weighing more than 40 kg) who do not need additional oxygen and who are at risk of developing a severe form, specifies the European Medicines Agency. .
The Ronapreve has one drawback, however: its high price, estimated at around 1,700 euros per dose.
Bamlanivimab / etesevimab
These monoclonal antibodies, developed by the Eli Lilly laboratory, received temporary authorization from the National Medicines Agency in March 2021.
They are intended to treat adult patients at high risk of developing a severe form.
Those who have also received a green light from the European Union
Xevudy
The GSK treatment, called Xevudy or sotrovimab, "dramatically reduces" hospital admissions in at-risk patients, the EMA said in a statement.
It "is intended for adults and adolescents who do not need supplemental oxygen and who are at increased risk for the severity of the disease."
Xevudy has already been licensed in the UK.
Kineret
Kineret is an immunosuppressive drug.
It works by preventing the action of a chemical messenger involved in immune processes that lead to inflammation.
Already used to treat arthritis and inflammatory diseases, the use of Kineret, from Swedish Sobi, has been "extended to the treatment of Covid-19 in adult patients who need supplemental oxygen.
It can "prevent the development of severe respiratory failure in patients with Covid-19," says the EMA.
Regkirona
The Regkirona is developed by the South Korean company Celltrion.
Authorized in early November in Europe, this treatment is based on monoclonal antibodies.
But it is not certain to see it arrive in France.
"It is a monotherapy with a theoretical risk of escape from the treatment and which loses its activity in the face of Omicron", explains to Liberation Laurence Weiss, immunologist and member of the treatment prioritization group of the National Agency on Infectious diseases.
The HAS has not yet commented on this subject.
Paxlovid
With an effectiveness announced, but not yet verified, of 90% against the risk of hospitalization and death, this is a drug that raises hope.
Paxlovid, also known as the “anti-Covid pill”, is designed by the American laboratory Pfizer.
This treatment, which has not yet received full marketing authorization, was approved by the European Medicines Agency on Thursday.
This specifies that it "can be used to treat adults with Covid-19 who do not need additional oxygen and who are at increased risk of developing a severe form of the disease".
Less expensive than monoclonal antibody treatments, it is easy to use since it is taken as a pill.
Its mode of action is expected to remain effective against Omicron based on laboratory tests, Pfizer also announced.
Molnupiravir challenged by the High Authority for Health
The antiviral treatment against Covid-19 from the American laboratory Merck did not obtain the approval of the High Authority of Health a week ago.
The organization considers in particular that the lack of effectiveness of the treatment (30% reduction in the risk of progression to the severe form of Covid-19) "would risk causing a loss of opportunity for patients, who would not be treated With another more effective drug.
Read alsoCovid-19: five minutes to understand the disappointment of Molnupiravir in France
As a result, this treatment which was to "change the game" according to the Minister of Health Olivier Véran, will not be used in France, despite the hopes it had initially raised.
Nearly 50,000 doses were initially ordered to treat symptomatic patients at risk of developing a severe form of Covid-19, but France “will not receive and will not pay” for these doses according to HAS.
